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Categorizing Products on Equipboard

simfonik|2532

We're working on adding product categories and I wanted to get your valuable input. Our thought is that adding more structure and data around products will enable us to create new ways of exploring gear on Equipboard, like filtering by 'Synthesizers & Workstations' to see all products of that type and the pros that use them.

We're currently looking at the possibility of using a service called Semantics3 as a starting point for product categories. It's not perfect, but I think we can make changes as needed.

What are your thoughts on using this as a starting point?

Here's how Semantic3 categorizes Musical Instruments: (Numbers in parenthesis are their category IDs):

Musical Instruments (24271)
1. Band & Orchestra (14432)
  1. Woodwinds (10133)
    1. Piccolos (18351)
    2. Oboes (9244)
    3. Saxophones (24239)
    4. Recorders (743)
    5. Bassoons (4830)
    6. Flutes (5025)
    7. Clarinets (4823)
    8. English Horns (12568)
  2. Brass (13305)
    1. Flugelhorns (5308)
    2. Cornets (19263)
    3. Trumpets (11298)
    4. Bugles (2598)
    5. Euphoniums (2381)
    6. Baritone Horns (15916)
    7. Trombones (22960)
    8. Tubas (23703)
    9. Mellophones (21925)
    10. Sousaphones (19852)
    11. French Horns (13676)
    12. Alto Horns (3526)
  3. Orchestral Strings (13637)
    1. Upright Basses (11064)
    2. Violins (10485)
    3. Violas (14345)
    4. Cellos (1907)
    5. Harps (7342)
2. Live Sound & Stage (13201)
  1. Stage & Studio Cables (23628)
    1. Recording Snakes (4408)
    2. Instrument Cables (3976)
    3. MIDI Cables (196)
    4. Microphone Cables (22562)
  2. Power Amplifiers (22917)
  3. Lighting Equipment & Accessories (12498)
    1. Stage Lighting (22381)
    2. Bubble Machines & Accessories (13417)
    3. Strobe Effects (19915)
    4. LED Lighting (24065)
    5. Mirror Balls & Accessories (18682)
    6. Lighting Accessories (8679)
    7. Projection Effects (4331)
    8. Fog Machines & Accessories (17476)
  4. PA Systems (23354)
  5. Monitors, Speakers & Subwoofers (8545)
    1. Subwoofers & Accessories (9268)
    2. Monitors & Accessories (10728)
    3. Speakers & Accessories (24273)
  6. Powered Mixers (24509)
3. DJ, Electronic Music & Karaoke (19538)
  1. DJ Equipment (8494)
    1. Tape Decks (3099)
    2. Accessories (7272)
    3. Mixers (3602)
    4. Turntables (11838)
    5. CD Players (17763)
    6. DJ Sets (15082)
  2. Electronic Music (7291)
    1. Audio Samplers (17140)
    2. Tabletop Synthesizers (16779)
    3. Production Stations (14951)
    4. Sound Modules (17723)
    5. Drum Machines (22783)
    6. Audio Sequencers (19276)
  3. Karaoke Equipment (22732)
    1. Stands & Hardware (14423)
    2. Systems (11609)
    3. Video Monitors (15400)
    4. Bags & Cases (205)
    5. Players (4419)
4. Keyboards (17727)
  1. Accordions (9162)
  2. Digital Pianos (14122)
  3. Player Pianos (15145)
  4. Harpsichords (9235)
  5. Electronic Keyboards (4162)
    1. Synthesizers & Workstations (12662)
    2. Portable Keyboards (19620)
  6. Organs (12805)
  7. World Instruments (8994)
    1. Thumb Pianos (14842)
    2. Harmoniums (4219)
    3. Concertinas (23286)
  8. Pianos (17035)
    1. Baby Grand Pianos (13859)
    2. Grand Pianos (3795)
    3. Upright Pianos (12376)
5. Drums & Percussion (5284)
  1. Electronic Drums (14257)
    1. Electronic Pads (11375)
    2. Controllers (21406)
    3. Triggers (1963)
    4. Drum Sets (14228)
  2. Hand Drums (2852)
    1. Congas, Quintos & Tumbas (15328)
    2. Other Hand Drums (13914)
    3. Udu Drums (19480)
    4. Djembes (12592)
    5. Timbales (6105)
    6. Steel Drums (6964)
    7. Doumbeks & Darbukas (16595)
    8. Bongos (20908)
    9. Ocean Drums (18836)
    10. Bodhrans & Frame Drums (15119)
    11. Talking Drums (18923)
  3. Hand Percussion (19582)
    1. Tambourines (5337)
    2. Cajons (10553)
    3. Maracas & Shakers (4779)
    4. Singing Bowls (3239)
    5. Washboards (20307)
    6. Bells & Chimes (18949)
    7. Castanets (7937)
    8. Latin Percussion (22475)
    9. Other Hand Percussion (5529)
    10. Finger Cymbals (2349)
    11. Triangles (14807)
    12. Rainsticks (1182)
    13. Cowbells (6198)
  4. Drum Sets & Set Components (17423)
    1. Drums (24550)
    2. Drum Sets (13705)
    3. Bells & Chimes (7355)
    4. Cymbals (3899)
    5. Gongs (4215)
    6. Mounted Tambourines (6581)
  5. Marching Percussion (11846)
    1. Marching Bass Drums (23586)
    2. Marching Cymbals (19610)
    3. Marching Tom-Toms (319)
    4. Marching Snare Drums (20154)
  6. Concert Percussion (14593)
    1. Concert Bass Drums (163)
    2. Glockenspiels (17318)
    3. Resonator Bells (2071)
    4. Concert Tom-Toms (21064)
    5. Concert Cymbals (9388)
    6. Metallophones (17234)
    7. Xylophones (1588)
    8. Timpanis (13110)
    9. Vibraphones (3043)
    10. Marimbas (3815)
    11. Concert Snare Drums (1911)
6. Bass Guitars (5101)
  1. Beginner Kits (16801)
  2. Acoustic & Acoustic-Electric Basses (5743)
  3. Electric Basses (23051)
7. Folk & World Instruments (17944)
  1. Stringed Instruments (7701)
    1. Banjos (5531)
    2. Ukuleles (4268)
    3. Vinas (21535)
    4. Mandolins (8931)
    5. Bouzoukis (15131)
    6. Lap & Pedal Steel Guitars (6567)
    7. Lutes (7745)
    8. Sitars (22544)
    9. Autoharps (12324)
    10. Sarods (24028)
    11. Santoors (12253)
    12. Strum Sticks (2164)
    13. Ouds (2493)
    14. Tamburas (23249)
    15. Dulcimers (17333)
    16. Psalteries (24743)
    17. Guzhengs (14599)
    18. Zithers (4655)
  2. Wind Instruments (17372)
    1. Kazoos (14652)
    2. Bamboo Flutes (4580)
    3. Bombards (4409)
    4. Pan Pipes (21703)
    5. Harmonicas (24232)
    6. Bamboo Clarinets (13585)
    7. Zurnas (22949)
    8. Ojas (12971)
    9. Shakuhachis (266)
    10. Shruti Boxes (1974)
    11. Shofars (21858)
    12. Conch Shells (12532)
    13. Bamboo Saxophones (8511)
    14. Ocarinas (6279)
    15. Shawms (15282)
    16. Suonas (2538)
    17. Fifes (5588)
    18. Whistles (646)
    19. Bagpipes (8539)
    20. Jew's Harps (5887)
    21. Neys (19860)
    22. Shenais (8305)
    23. Didgeridoos (14319)
8. Guitars (5133)
  1. Classical & Nylon-String Guitars (15053)
  2. Acoustic Guitars (7491)
    1. Steel-string Acoustic Guitars (19683)
    2. Resonators (7571)
    3. Beginner Kits (12749)
  3. Acoustic-Electric Guitars (10540)
  4. Electric Guitars (11262)
    1. Solid Body (1962)
    2. Hollow & Semi-Hollow Body (9245)
    3. Extended Range Guitars (13042)
    4. Digital Modeling Guitars (4345)
    5. Beginner Kits (12979)
9. Instrument Accessories (23462)
  1. Keyboard Accessories (20755)
    1. Keyboard Amplifiers (17247)
    2. Player Piano Accessories (17373)
    3. Accordion Accessories (23820)
    4. Cleaning & Care (13025)
    5. Organ Accessories (5199)
    6. Power Supplies (11879)
    7. Bags, Cases & Covers (3870)
    8. Pedals & Footswitches (14038)
    9. Harpsichord Accessories (14898)
    10. Expansion Boards & Sound Libraries (2670)
    11. Benches (12278)
    12. Stands (1952)
  2. Drum & Percussion Accessories (21961)
    1. Marching Percussion Accessories (19350)
    2. Drum Set Accessories (6768)
    3. Concert Percussion Accessories (6968)
    4. Drumsticks, Mallets & Brushes (5512)
    5. Electronic Drum Amps (21384)
    6. Cleaning & Care (12963)
    7. Practice Devices (16013)
  3. Orchestral Strings Accessories (22099)
    1. Bows (8269)
    2. Rosin (9336)
    3. Endpin Rests (9601)
    4. Shoulder & Chin Rests (1426)
    5. Strings (17274)
    6. Parts (431)
    7. Cleaning & Care (22356)
    8. Stands & Hangers (15951)
    9. Bags & Cases (17390)
  4. Guitar & Bass Accessories (17358)
    1. Stands (15892)
    2. Tuners (3361)
    3. Bags & Cases (14126)
    4. Slides (4251)
    5. Effects (20276)
    6. Capos (19135)
    7. Cleaning & Care (20687)
    8. Parts (9865)
    9. Strings (19761)
    10. Tools (7142)
    11. String Winders (17455)
    12. Amplifiers (13178)
    13. Straps & Strap Locks (3308)
    14. Picks & Pick Holders (24153)
    15. Stools (2965)
  5. Folk & World Instrument Accessories (15897)
    1. Banjo Accessories (22759)
    2. Ukulele Accessories (14527)
    3. Mandolin Accessories (15439)
    4. Autoharp Accessories (24854)
    5. Dulcimer Accessories (22372)
  6. Woodwind Accessories (20974)
    1. Parts (6531)
    2. Bags & Cases (23960)
    3. Reeds (6091)
    4. Straps (23631)
    5. Mouthpieces (16230)
    6. Stands (8689)
    7. Cleaning & Care (16620)
    8. Ligatures (10666)
  7. Amplifier Accessories (12824)
    1. Footswitches & Controllers (21418)
    2. Parts (4352)
    3. Bags, Cases & Covers (17703)
    4. Stands (2601)
  8. Brass Accessories (137)
    1. Stands (22002)
    2. Mutes (5867)
    3. Mouthpieces (6095)
    4. Bags & Cases (7884)
    5. Cleaning & Care (14905)
  9. General Accessories (14208)
    1. Music Lyres (11424)
    2. Sheet Music Folders (13489)
    3. Metronomes (13817)
    4. Conducting (12403)
    5. Musical Gifts (24044)
    6. Staff Boards (4646)
    7. Music Awards (10740)
    8. Tuning (14266)
    9. Stand Lights (7014)
    10. Practice Aids (23981)
    11. Music Stands (9253)
    12. Staff Paper (2683)
10. Studio Recording Equipment (1786)
  1. Studio Monitors (15250)
  2. Power Conditioners (5407)
  3. Mastering Recorders (9418)
    1. DVD Recorders & Duplicators (10592)
    2. DAT Recorders (15433)
    3. CD Recorders & Duplicators (1563)
    4. Minidisc Recorders (22232)
    5. Combo Decks (9083)
    6. CompactFlash Recorders (4918)
    7. Cassette Recorders & Duplicators (22442)
  4. Microphones & Accessories (5289)
    1. Condenser Microphones (18401)
    2. Clips & Mounts (5655)
    3. Windscreens & Pop Filters (2183)
    4. Bags & Cases (4115)
    5. Ribbon Microphones (21425)
    6. Preamps (15842)
    7. Wireless Microphones (13689)
    8. Phantom Power Supplies (17592)
    9. Dynamic Microphones (24155)
    10. Stands (10275)
  5. Headphone & In-Ear Monitors (17839)
  6. Multitrack Recorders (23925)
    1. Analog (24602)
    2. Digital (18965)
  7. Mixers & Accessories (4718)
    1. Mixers (7139)
    2. Accessories (19621)
  8. Studio Environment (6098)
    1. Rack Accessories (10507)
    2. Racks (21664)
    3. Acoustical Treatments (16517)
    4. Furniture (22361)
  9. Computer Recording (21911)
    1. MIDI Interfaces (13535)
    2. Software (14795)
    3. Digital Audio Workstation Controllers (16634)
    4. Audio Interfaces (12347)
    5. MIDI Controllers (8636)
  10. Portable Recorders (22492)
  11. Signal Processors (3510)
    1. Direct Boxes (15472)
    2. Converters (5257)
    3. Effects Processors (18168)
    4. A-D & D-A Converters (15312)
    5. A-B Boxes (16609)

almost 12 years ago

simfonik|2532

Quick update! We've narrowed down the previous massive list to some top level categories that we believe will make a good starting point. As I mentioned before, we can always expand or make adjustments where it makes sense.

Any thoughts on these product categories?

Musical Instruments
- DJ & Electronic Music
- Keyboards & Synthesizers
- Drums & Percussion
- Guitars
- Bass Guitars
- Guitar Effects Pedals
- Folk & World Instruments
- Instrument Accessories
- Studio Recording Gear

almost 12 years ago

sora|48

In reply to simfonik:

I really liked the "Dashboard" type of look we had a few months ago where I can just see all the new equipment people got. I just dislike having to go to a Music Producers Board and see it that way, I'd rather have it just on a dashboard where I can scroll down and see.

over 11 years ago

simfonik|2532

In reply to sora:

Thanks for letting us know you're missing the "Dashboard" view that we used to have on the home page. We've heard this same feedback from quite a few people now.

We definitely plan on making recently added artists and equipment easy to find again. In the meantime, we put this together so you can still see what's recently been added to Equipboard.

http://equipboard.com/recent_activity

over 11 years ago

sora|48

This is also good, just wish there was a link to "Recent Activity". But otherwise, Thanks!

over 11 years ago

fancypants|1395

The Semantics3 categorization looks pretty darn comprehensive (and maybe a little daunting?). Seems I can even categorize generic pots and pans into the "Hand Percussion - Other Hand Percussion" category quite easily.

I find that the categorization used on the B&H photo/video/pro audio easily navigable. Wonder what they use?

over 11 years ago

diepacheco|871

I'd add electric violins/viola/cello/double bass

over 11 years ago

arthurelectric|641

I see a lot equipment in wrong categories. Example is http://equipboard.com/pros/carl-craig

EuroRack Synth Modules as effect pedals???

over 11 years ago

arthurelectric|641

In reply to arthurelectric:

Maybe you add a Category: Modular systems:

Eurorack modules
5U rack: Moog/MOTM/Synthesizers.com
Frac rack

These are the most popular formats around at the moment.

over 11 years ago

arthurelectric|641

In reply to arthurelectric:

Other one: a Drumcomputer in Modular synthesizer category ???

-> http://equipboard.com/pros/atrak

over 11 years ago

simfonik|2532

@arthurelectric thanks for pointing these out. I've fixed their categories.

Thanks too for the suggestion of breaking out modular synths by format. That definitely makes sense. I'll see about getting those added when we do our next round of work on categories.

@ diepacheco I'll see about adding those when we do our next round of work on categories.

over 11 years ago

thatlkjguy|4735

GEAR:

Yeah we really need the dashboard back. What I liked about it is you could see not only what other gear had been added to a pro's equipboard but also what gear had been added to a fellow member's equipboard. Felt like that allowed everyone to be more connected somehow, though I could be the only one who believes so. But I definitely love the whole categorizing concept with the gear. It helps.

over 11 years ago

GEAR:

simfonik|2532

In reply to thatlkjguy:

Thanks for letting us know you want the dashboard back.

Would you like a dashboard of new artist and member activity as your logged in home page? Is there any other information you would like to see there?

over 11 years ago

thatlkjguy|4735

GEAR:

Not really. Maybe on the side a list of recently added artists (basically a lot of the old stuff). You could have the home page be as it is for people who aren't logged in; then once you log in, the dashboard pops up and all.

Appreciate your listening to everyone's comments about the site.

over 11 years ago

GEAR:

Categorizing Products on Equipboard

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